UAFS Organizations Seeks Shoes For Children’s Emergency Shelter

One organization at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith will demonstrate the heart and “sole” of compassion as it hosts another shoe drive for the Children’s Emergency Shelter.

The Transfer Student Organization at UAFS will host Shoes-4-A-Cause, a project in which the group collects shoes from the public for youths ages 6-17 who have been temporarily placed in the Children’s Emergency Shelter due to no fault of their own.

“Children have a right to a childhood wrapped up in safety, love and joy,” Brett Manning of Harrison, leader of the project, said in a news release. “And when they’re denied that, we want to help them in any way we can. We start with shoes because they’re the basics.”

The shelter is in need of shoes because often the children show up with nothing but the clothes on their back; sometimes, they don’t even have shoes on their feet.

“Imagine you’re a little boy or girl and something at home went wrong with your parents,” Manning said. “All of a sudden, you’re in a shelter, and you don’t have a thing to wear to school tomorrow. When that morning bell rings, you’d feel a lot better if you were dressed well. We want some nice-looking shoes, new or nearly new, that you’d be proud to wear to school so that we can help these kids.”

“It’s hard for most people to imagine how they would handle the situations our kids have to deal with,” Moffett said in the news release. “That’s why I think we need to do everything possible to help them face their world with a brave face and clothes that fit and look good. That’s why I’m so grateful for this ‘Shoes-4-A-Cause’ drive that will collect new and nearly-new shoes.”

Collection boxes have been placed around campus, at 5210 Grand Ave., for the drive, which will end Nov. 30. The drive needs sneakers, flip-flops, running shoes, slippers and rain wear for children ages 6-17 years old.

Last year, TSO collected more than 200 pairs of shoes for the Children’s Emergency Shelter.